Methods, devices and systems for communications between real world wireless devices and virtual wireless devices

Abstract

A method can include a virtual/augmented reality (V/AR) access device receiving a list of virtual wireless devices within a predetermined virtual range. An upstream data frame from a real world wireless device can be encapsulated by the V/AR access device into an upstream packet and transmitted to a virtual wireless device. Downstream packets from the virtual wireless device can be decapsulated by the V/AR access device to access a downstream data frame. The downstream data frame can be transmitted to the real world wireless device by the V/AR access device. Corresponding devices and systems are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 by operation of a virtual/augmented reality (V/AR) access device,
 receiving a list of virtual wireless devices that includes, for each virtual wireless device, an identifier, a virtual range, and at least one of a plurality of real world communication standards, 
 authenticating at least one virtual wireless device via packet transmissions, 
 authenticating a real world wireless device, 
 in response to wirelessly receiving an upstream data frame from the real world wireless device for at least one of the virtual wireless devices, encapsulating the upstream data frame, including its data link layer information, within an upstream packet and transmitting the upstream packet to the virtual wireless device, and 
 in response to a downstream packet received from the virtual wireless device for the real world wireless device, decapsulating the downstream packet to access a downstream data frame, including its data link layer information, and wirelessly transmitting the downstream data frame to the real world wireless device according to a network data link layer protocol corresponding to the data link layer information; wherein 
 each virtual range is determined by a virtual position of the V/AR access device and a virtual position of the corresponding virtual device in a V/AR environment. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upstream and downstream packets are compatible with at least one Internet Protocol; and   the upstream and downstream data frames are compatible with at least one IEEE 802.11 wireless standard.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upstream and downstream packets are compatible with at least one Internet Protocol; and   the upstream and downstream data frames are compatible with at least one Bluetooth standard, including BLE.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upstream and downstream packets and data frames are generated with a same integrated circuit device of the V/AR access device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 by operation of the V/AR access device
 determining a virtual location for the V/AR access device in a V/AR environment, and 
 transmitting the virtual location in a network packet to a V/AR system of the V/AR environment. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including, by operation of the V/AR access device, providing MAC addresses of real world wireless devices connected to the V/AR access device to the virtual wireless device via packet transmissions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further including:
 by operation of the virtual wireless device,
 mapping network addresses to MAC addresses of real world wireless devices received from the V/AR access device, and 
 in response to receiving a data frame having a destination corresponding to one of the MAC addresses, encapsulating the received data frame with a downstream packet having the network address corresponding to V/AR access device, and transmitting the downstream packet. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including:
 by operation of a V/AR system,
 receiving the virtual location of the V/AR access device, 
 generating the list of virtual wireless devices within a predetermined virtual range of the V/AR access device, and 
 transmitting the list to the VA/R access device. 
   
     
     
         9 . A device, comprising:
 storage circuits configured to store a list of virtual wireless devices of a virtual/augmented reality (V/AR) environment, the list including an identifier, a virtual range, and at least one of a plurality of real world communication standards for each virtual wireless device;   controller circuits configured to
 authenticate and connect with the virtual wireless devices of the list 
 authenticate and connect with at least one real world wireless device, 
 in response to wirelessly receiving an upstream data frame from the at least one real world wireless device for at least one of the virtual wireless devices, encapsulate the upstream data frame in an upstream network layer packet, including the upstream data frame data link layer information, and 
 in response to a downstream packet from one of the virtual wireless devices for the at least one real world wireless device, decapsulate the downstream packet to determine a downstream data frame, including data link layer information for the downstream data frame; and 
   wireless circuits configured to wirelessly transmit authentication network packets, authentication data frames, the upstream network layer packet to the at least one virtual wireless device, and the downstream data frame to the at least one real world device according to a network data link layer protocol corresponding to the data link layer information, and receive the downstream packet; wherein   the storage circuits, controller circuits and wireless circuits are formed with a same integrated circuit substrate, and   each virtual range is determined by a virtual position of the V/AR access device and a virtual position of the corresponding virtual device in a V/AR environment.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the controller circuits are configured to encapsulate data frames compatible with a wireless standard selected from the group of: at least one IEEE 802.11 wireless standard and at least one Bluetooth standard, including BLE; and   the wireless circuits comprise
 first radio circuits compatible with at least one IEEE 802.11 wireless standard, and 
 second radio circuits compatible with at least one Bluetooth standard, including BLE. 
   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the controller circuits are configured to
 form upstream network layer packets compatible with at least one Internet protocol; and 
 decapsulate packets compatible with at least one Internet protocol. 
   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the controller circuits are further configured to
 determine a virtual location for the V/AR access device in a V/AR environment, and 
 transmit the virtual location in a network packet to a VAR system.